giving our dog "the snip" good or bad?
Discussion
Hi, we're thinking about getting our 6 months old scottypoo puppy jasper "done". We believe that there's enough doggies in the world and it may even calm the little monster down a bit!
However my mum (knower of all things) says that there's disadvantages too and we should do doke more research.
so what's the PH view?
Many thanks.
However my mum (knower of all things) says that there's disadvantages too and we should do doke more research.
so what's the PH view?
Many thanks.
6 months is pretty much mature for small crossbreed, as the OP has.
Pros - removes the risk of testicular cancer, reduces the risk of prostate problems and perianal cancers later on in life. If he's very aggressive/boisterous with other dogs castration may help, but I wouldn't rely on this.
Cons - If he's a very nervous/submissive dog, castration may worsen this, but again it may make no difference.
If you look around on the internet you may find references to an increased risk of bone cancer linked to early neutering - this has not been reliably proven and if it is an issue, is only a problem for large breed dogs, not small ones.
Pros - removes the risk of testicular cancer, reduces the risk of prostate problems and perianal cancers later on in life. If he's very aggressive/boisterous with other dogs castration may help, but I wouldn't rely on this.
Cons - If he's a very nervous/submissive dog, castration may worsen this, but again it may make no difference.
If you look around on the internet you may find references to an increased risk of bone cancer linked to early neutering - this has not been reliably proven and if it is an issue, is only a problem for large breed dogs, not small ones.
Unless he is humping everything in sight and behaving in a bolshy manner there is no need to rush into it. It is generally thought waiting until he is over adolescence (so for him probably the next couple months) and as mentioned don't do if feastly or nervous until his confidence increases.
Weight gain is the main issue but this is avoidable with care.
Weight gain is the main issue but this is avoidable with care.
I might chuck an insight onto both sides of this argument...
I had a stafie X, a rescue dog, whose 'adoption' fee included the knackerlopping. However we moved away and for one reason or another, never got him lopped.
We lost him at 9 to prostate cancer, and, rather insensitively, the vet who did the PTS made us feel worse by saying that if we had him done he might not have got prostrate cancer....chhers, b
h
Now....
Charlie is a 2 yo black lab who is boistrous and dry humps his bro, so that is swinging us around to the pro side.....
input gladly recieved.....
I had a stafie X, a rescue dog, whose 'adoption' fee included the knackerlopping. However we moved away and for one reason or another, never got him lopped.
We lost him at 9 to prostate cancer, and, rather insensitively, the vet who did the PTS made us feel worse by saying that if we had him done he might not have got prostrate cancer....chhers, b
hNow....
Charlie is a 2 yo black lab who is boistrous and dry humps his bro, so that is swinging us around to the pro side.....
input gladly recieved.....
We've had ours done once they start cocking their leg to pee. Any earlier and you risk having a puppy forever. Puppies are cool, but a full grown adult dog that still acts like a fool is annoying after a while.
Of course, I'm not a vet, but we looked into it a bit as we have had half a dozen dogs snipped over the years.
We still have one guy that needs doing, but haven't got round to it yet. He is so lovable and funny I feel guilty thinking about doing it to him now.
The only bh we have is his sister, so he has little chance of ever emptying his bag in anger.
Of course, I'm not a vet, but we looked into it a bit as we have had half a dozen dogs snipped over the years.
We still have one guy that needs doing, but haven't got round to it yet. He is so lovable and funny I feel guilty thinking about doing it to him now.
The only bh we have is his sister, so he has little chance of ever emptying his bag in anger. We have two uncastrated males, at least partly because the people campaigning for dog neutering tend to be the animal rights nutters for whom there should be a special place reserved in the third circle of Hell. Also I am unconvinced by using surgical alteration as a way of dealing with behavioural/training issues. I reckon the arguments for males are a bit more finely balanced than for females, where leaving them intact means a very, very high probability of having to rush them to the vets' with pyometra at 6 or 7 years old. Not to mention having spots of blood all over the floor every six months, stray dogs hanging around the garden etc.
But for a male, provided you have a secure garden and aren't in the habit of turning him out every day to roam the streets, it's up to you whether to castrate or not. It isn't compulsory (although above-mentioned animal rights nutters are working on that). You'll get back from the vets a slightly different dog from the one you took in - in my experience, a bit less sharp, less 'doggy' but arguably a better family pet. But if you are happy with your dog as he is, I'd leave him intact.
But for a male, provided you have a secure garden and aren't in the habit of turning him out every day to roam the streets, it's up to you whether to castrate or not. It isn't compulsory (although above-mentioned animal rights nutters are working on that). You'll get back from the vets a slightly different dog from the one you took in - in my experience, a bit less sharp, less 'doggy' but arguably a better family pet. But if you are happy with your dog as he is, I'd leave him intact.
The sharpness argument is generally rubbish. As long as you keep a neutered male slim and active they are fine.
My boy was done at 11 months he is now 8.5yrs, everyone that sees him running assume he is 1-2yrs old
Urges in older males are greater, more likely to roam, run off, be a nuisance on walks re searching out entire females etc, this means higher risk of rta's, fights. When older testicular cancer is risk (which can be aggressive and spread), anal adencarcinomas are much more likely in older entire males.
At our practice we look at the individual re behaviour, maturity etc. Age of neutering depends on breed smaller 9mths, middle 12-15mths, large 15-18mths giant 18-24 months but sooner if deemed necessary.
Of course it's not an exact science.
And yep I do advise neutering when the time is right for the dog, I am not an animal rights nutter but it is my duty to provide advice and guidance to my clients so they can have an informed choice.
We have euthanased animals due medical illnessess related to them being older and entire, yet they are not elderly (9-10yrs) of course not all entire male or female dogs are going to die early but the health risks are there and avoidable.
As I said as long as the OP has the information, they can now make an informed choice.
My boy was done at 11 months he is now 8.5yrs, everyone that sees him running assume he is 1-2yrs old
Urges in older males are greater, more likely to roam, run off, be a nuisance on walks re searching out entire females etc, this means higher risk of rta's, fights. When older testicular cancer is risk (which can be aggressive and spread), anal adencarcinomas are much more likely in older entire males.
At our practice we look at the individual re behaviour, maturity etc. Age of neutering depends on breed smaller 9mths, middle 12-15mths, large 15-18mths giant 18-24 months but sooner if deemed necessary.
Of course it's not an exact science.
And yep I do advise neutering when the time is right for the dog, I am not an animal rights nutter but it is my duty to provide advice and guidance to my clients so they can have an informed choice.
We have euthanased animals due medical illnessess related to them being older and entire, yet they are not elderly (9-10yrs) of course not all entire male or female dogs are going to die early but the health risks are there and avoidable.
As I said as long as the OP has the information, they can now make an informed choice.
We've got two males who are both intact ... a boarder collie and a rhodesian ridgeback ... both around 3 years old. I heard so many mixed reports that swayed me to leave them both as they are ... they are not overly aggressive and they won't roam or stray ... they always stay close by when walking. Yes, they take a shining to the odd bh (sometimes one at each end, Premiership footballer style) and dog on occasion but they get a snap or bark from the bh and they know to stop.
I think the overriding factor is that we didn't want to change their personalities when they were about 18 months old.
h (sometimes one at each end, Premiership footballer style) and dog on occasion but they get a snap or bark from the bh and they know to stop. I think the overriding factor is that we didn't want to change their personalities when they were about 18 months old.
essayer said:
Interested to hear arguments either way for bhes too..
Was talking to the owner of a couple of Spaniels where I walk at the weekend. He has a bhes too..h which was having phantom pregnancies every 6 weeks which the vet said would cause cancer so said he was really in a difficult situation and has to have her done. Had my dog done at 2 years. Only a lab/collie cross so nothing special breed wise. 4 years later and no obvious side effects so far. Not done much for his temperament (he's never been a bum sniffing fan) but I do think he isn't as on edge as he used to be. Then again that's just as likely to be an age thing.
celticpilgrim said:
I might chuck an insight onto both sides of this argument...
I had a stafie X, a rescue dog, whose 'adoption' fee included the knackerlopping. However we moved away and for one reason or another, never got him lopped.
We lost him at 9 to prostate cancer, and, rather insensitively, the vet who did the PTS made us feel worse by saying that if we had him done he might not have got prostrate cancer....chhers, bh
Now....
Charlie is a 2 yo black lab who is boistrous and dry humps his bro, so that is swinging us around to the pro side.....
input gladly recieved.....
Surprised you need further input, considering what you've been told by the vet, and that it might curtail Charlie's behaviour (at least to some extent).I had a stafie X, a rescue dog, whose 'adoption' fee included the knackerlopping. However we moved away and for one reason or another, never got him lopped.
We lost him at 9 to prostate cancer, and, rather insensitively, the vet who did the PTS made us feel worse by saying that if we had him done he might not have got prostrate cancer....chhers, b
hNow....
Charlie is a 2 yo black lab who is boistrous and dry humps his bro, so that is swinging us around to the pro side.....
input gladly recieved.....
Had both of my Cairn terriers done when they were about 10 months old (from memory, might be a bit later). Bert had an undescended testicle which is a problem if left alone. These can apparently turn cancerous if left.
Ernie needed extra dew claws on his hind legs removing and as Bert was having his balls off, I thought it cruel to leave Ernie with his so they came off too.
Has it changed them? Not really. They are boisterous lads but doubt they would be much different with their bits. Bert still humps sometimes but rarely when I am there (I'm the boss so he soon stops if I speak) Ernie never does this but is the softer of the two.
Personally I would have them off sooner rather than later. And I do mean off the DOG not ME!
bhes I think can be troublesome if left entire. Phantoms and messy spotting are things I couldn't cope with. Best left until they've had at least one heat (or pups)so I've heard.
Ernie needed extra dew claws on his hind legs removing and as Bert was having his balls off, I thought it cruel to leave Ernie with his so they came off too.
Has it changed them? Not really. They are boisterous lads but doubt they would be much different with their bits. Bert still humps sometimes but rarely when I am there (I'm the boss so he soon stops if I speak) Ernie never does this but is the softer of the two.
Personally I would have them off sooner rather than later. And I do mean off the DOG not ME!
b
hes I think can be troublesome if left entire. Phantoms and messy spotting are things I couldn't cope with. Best left until they've had at least one heat (or pups)so I've heard. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff